Please Explain America For Me..

[Boyd]

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Do ya need some extra help out there? That is drop dead gorgeous out there!

 

[Cara]

LOL Thanks. I could post some pics of all the rattlesnakes though

 

[Boyd]

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I know snakes from Eastern Texas, but something about NM that seems to call to me. I still have my snake gun... an old .38 S&W with shot

 

[Royd]

Florida is green....You can't see the forest, for the trees.

 

[Rosalind]

Massachusetts is fairly urban, and culturally closer to Europe than most other states. Lots of history from the early colonial and revolutionary period, lots of state parks and museums where the revolution's battles were fought. Whale watching is pretty much the coolest thing about this area, in summer the whales migrate to our area and they are beautiful. Good quality of life here, in that we actually have public transit, museums, opera houses etc.

Hmm, trying to think what my British in-laws are always amazed at--it's hard to explain things because to us they are just normal. The consumerist culture is probably the most amazing thing to people who aren't from here: there's a TON of shopping and all kinds of stores that sell everything you can think of and many things you can't. You won't even believe anyone pays good money for half the stuff in stores, and we've got giant stores the size of supermarkets that sell this stuff that no one really needs. My in-laws look at stores like Petco and wonder how on earth they stay in business by selling 800 brands of dog food, dog toys and dog sweaters and whatnot. Lots of my Chinese colleagues reckon that the US must be a very wealthy place because we have so many stores; it doesn't matter that most of these businesses run on credit rather than cash, run in the red 11 months out of 12 and have almost no capital, they are just amazed the stores even exist. It's not real wealth in the sense that an overseas business might have real wealth--overseas, credit is harder to get and more businesses run on capital and cash. That's not the case here, it's all run on credit. They have tightened up the credit market some because of the Great Recession, but not as much as you'd think. In the UK, with the same credit score, I could get maybe one credit card with a few thousand $$ limit. Here, I have a big mortgage, three regular credit cards with five-digit limits, couple of department store credit cards, and if I wanted I could get a fancy new car on credit tomorrow. Not real money though. Most folks who look like they have a lot of consumer goods are up to their eyeballs in debt. That is always mind-blowing to most visitors, the sheer amount of stuff we buy, and most of it junk.

Other thing is that most of the service workers you encounter, derive a substantial amount of their income from tips. You are expected to tip at least 15% in restaurants, taxis, hair salons, that sort of thing, 20% if the service was good. Most of those people get paid considerably less than the legal minimum wage, and this is allowed because of the tips. One of DH's relatives argues that this is foolish, that service workers should unionize and demand better wages overall rather than accept tips, and that as such he refuses to tip. That's great coming from a country where labor laws are strictly enforced and union-busting is illegal, but in the US it is actually quite difficult to unionize and keep your job, and some of the unions that would normally represent underpaid workers have been quite corrupt in the past. So if you don't tip, you're only hurting the person who just did their best to help you--gotta tip generously.

Also, Americans are rude according to the British. We just are. I don't understand it either, but what constitutes normal conversation in the US is considered horribly intrusive by UK standards.
Me: Do you like animals? We just got a dog.
MIL: Don't know about dogs, but I do love cats.
Me: Oh, I love cats too! We have four! You'll meet them shortly.
MIL: Wonderful!
Rude --> Me: Is there any particular reason you like cats better than dogs? <--Too nosy, personal question
"Rude" in the US mostly consists of heated discussions of religion or politics, or direct insults. So if you feel like we are too nosy, discussing sensitive issues or asking something inappropriate...sorry, we don't mean to.

 

[TheRanch]

I live in Florida like Royd - actually just a little ways below Royd, Florida has some small hilly areas, but mostly flat and sandy, even in the center.

Although it is thought of as a very warm place this past winter was so cold we actually had flurries (albeit shortlived) in some areas of North Florida.

There are some big cities but mostly towns (even though if they are incorporated and have 20 people they are called cities!!

) Lots of rural areas and pretty countryside to look at, with oceans on each side - kind of the best of both worlds.

 

[becc]

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I hope for Iowa that is 60 degree's fahrenheit.. otherwise OUCH!

 

[Beekissed]

There is really no way to explain America...at least not on a forum post box. I'm sure it's nothing like you've heard and some of what you've heard. Diverse terrain, a multitude of races, accents and religions. Trying to explain America is just impossible!

I talked to a fellow from MN the other day who thought my accent was so thick that he could barely understand me...I'm from WV.

Try Alabama if you want to hear southern accents!

One thing for sure....as a nation we defy explanation!

My state is beautiful and diverse as well but we get stereotyped more than any other state in the nation. Inbred, illiterate, hillbilly, redneck, incestuous and all the other bad jokes you can think of. Sad, really. I miss it when I'm away from it and am sometimes annoyed by the small minds in the small towns...but, mostly, I'm proud to be here and I thank God that I don't have to live in a city, or in a hot desert, or where it's always cold or where I have to lock my truck, home or chicken coop!

 

[becc]

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Bet that describes Australia pretty good too.

And most other countries....but it would help immensely to know WHERE in America they are referring to in the first place!! There is no way to explain a country this diverse in order for someone to understand it without experiencing it. It's like saying...explain Mac sauce

I wrote it like that for a purpose, it's free for anyone's interpretation. That way I don't just get a long geography lesson, I get more this way.

 

[babylady4]

Just travel Route 66; you will get to know us well that way.